After the fight between Craig (Ice Cube) and neighborhood bully, Deebo (Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.), rumor has spread that Deebo will breaking out of jail and will come looking for Craig. As a precaution, Craig's father Willie Jones (Witherspoon) decides to have him stay with Elroy (Don Curry), Craig's uncle, and his cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps). While waiting on Craig, Willie is outside fussing about the chores Craig forgot to do. Still yelling Willie steps on the edge of the landing, causing him to fall Into some dog poop that was In the grass. Finally Craig comes out and they get in the car. Willie then fusses at Craig, saying that it was his fault he fell in what he believed to be mud.

While driving off, Deebo steps in front of the car demanding a rematch. His younger brother, Tyrone (Sticky Fingaz) tries to intimidate him, but Craig tells Willie to drive off. They hit Tyrone, causing him to have a quick ride on the hood of the car. The chain then holding Tyrone and Debo breaks. Tyrone falls off the hood of the car. Craig opens the door shouting "Fake ass Shug Knight!".

Initially, life in Rancho Cucamonga seems to be ideal, but trouble soon arises in many different areas.

Day-Day's pregnant ex-girlfriend D'Wana (Tamala Jones) is angry over him breaking up with her and claims he is the father, but he denies it. She vandalizes his car, sprays pepper spray into his eyes and threatens to return with her "little" sister Baby D (Lady of Rage). In spite of his family winning the lottery, Day-Day informs Craig that his family isn't that rich anymore. After taxes had been taken from their winnings, all they were left with was their house and Day-Day's BMW. Because of this situation, Day-Day still has a job at Pinky's, a local record store.

A family of Chicano thugs (the Jokers) lives next door and Day-Day and Craig learn about their drug dealing activities from Mrs. Ho-kym (Amy Hill). Craig notices their sister Karla but is warned by Day-Day to stay away from her because of her brothers. When her brothers see Craig talking to Karla they send their dog Chico after him. They both jump on top of Day-Day's car. Craig hits Chico with his belt buckle, with Day-Day saying "You Uncle Willie son, don't play that shit". The shocked Joker (Jacob Vargas) yells "Chico, get your stupid ass over here homes". Then the enraged Day-Day leaves to go to work claiming Craig shouldn't get him in trouble.

Craig visits Day-Day at his work place to give him his mail and meets Day-Day's friend/co-worker "Roach" (Justin Pierce). After an angry customer (Michael Blackson) attempts to scam Day-Day out of money by returning a broken CD, Craig throws him out of the store. Then Roach tells Day-Day that D'wana is outside and wants to talk to him. Day-Day then sees that D'wana has brought Baby D and quickly locks the store doors. He sends Craig out to tell them he isn't there, but they push their way in. Craig then says "These hoes ain't got no manners." D'wana say she wants to speak to Day-Day but Craig goes back to the fact that she said she wanted to but a CD. D'wana nudges Baby D, Baby D then claims she wants to see the jazz section. Craig takes her. D'wana then says she wants them to tell Day-Day that child caring classes start Wednesday. Then she proceeds to leave but has the sudden urge to go to the bathroom. Day-Day who is standing by the bathroom becomes nervous and runs, Baby D then chases after him. They run around outside, then Day-Day makes a deal with Baby D. Craig for his life. Baby D takes that deal, Day-Day runs over to inform him. Craig looks at Baby D and runs in with Day-Day and Roach following him. Leaving D'wana and Baby D outside.

Shortly after, record store owner, Pinky (Clifton Powell), returns and mistakes Craig for a thief attempting to rob his store. After a brawl between him and Craig for his pistol, and subsequently being informed that Craig is Day-Day's cousin, Pinky furiously fires both Day-Day and Roach on the spot

They had earlier that day received a notice of unpaid taxes on their house and Day-Day is extremely upset with Craig for getting him fired. As they think of a solution and Roach attempts to leave, he slips on his skateboard which is then intentionally run over by the Joker brothers' Cadillac. As they watch, they see the elder Joker removing a suspicious hydraulic pump from the trunk. They decide to find out what is inside the pump.

They manage to break into the Jokers’ house and Craig finds the hydraulic pump to be a hiding place for a large amount of drug cash, and takes some of it. However, he soon goes into Karla's room which impresses her. She then tells Craig that the neighborhood was once peaceful until her brothers got out of jail. They took over the house and are the direct cause of her parents mental breakdown. Karla and their parents tried to avoid them by saving money and moving away, but it only encouraged her brothers to follow them.

Day-Day and Roach grow nervous about Craig's prolonged absence and attempt to go find him, so they knock at the door and are greeted by the three brothers armed with pistols and automatic rifles who take them hostage. When Craig realizes that Day-Day has not returned home, he, Willie, and Elroy plan a rescue mission.

A fight ensues between Craig and Joker, while Day-Day and Roach are eventually freed by Elroy. After a scuffle in which Joker aims an automatic rifle at Craig, Day-Day and Roach, gets knocked out from behind by Deebo, whom, along with Tyrone, snuck into Willie's truck. Tyrone takes the rifle from the unconscious Joker and gives it to Deebo so he can enact revenge on Craig. Unfortunately, Chico attacks both him and Tyrone. The police soon arrive and arrest Deebo, along with Tyrone and the Joker brothers. However they are unaware of the hydraulic pump and its contents, and thus Craig, Day-Day and Roach are left with the cash which helps in paying their debts so that Elroy and Day-Day can keep their house. Craig returns to South Central, but not before seeing D'Wana and Baby D trash Day-Day's car.

The film received negative reviews by critics and fans, earning a 20% "rotten" rating from Rotten Tomatoes,[3] and on Metacritic the film has received a score of 41, based on 25 reviews. The film was, however, successful at the box office. Next Friday grossed $14,465,156 on its opening weekend in 1,103 theaters, averaging $13,114 per theater. The film has grossed $57,328,603 in North America and $2,498,725 in the Foreign box office to earn a total $59,827,328 worldwide.

Next Friday was released on DVD June 6, 2000. The single disc DVD contains a theatrical trailer, music videos, a "making of..." featurette, behind the scenes footage, and an alternate ending as well as cast and crew information.